so that was his one assist for 2013??

not really blown away by that compilation. seems competent but not amazing. also ugly. looks like he packs boxes in the back of a bodega. or a beefier version of eduardo.

Let me tell you a little story, dear kami.

So once upon a time, A MAN and his son were once going with their Donkey to market. As they were walking along by its side a countryman passed them and said: “You fools, what is a Donkey for but to ride upon?"

So the Man put the Boy on the Donkey and they went on their way. But soon they passed a group of men, one of whom said: “See that lazy youngster, he lets his father walk while he rides.”

So the Man ordered his Boy to get off, and got on himself. But they hadn’t gone far when they passed two women, one of whom said to the other: “Shame on that lazy lout to let his poor little son trudge along.”

Well, the Man didn’t know what to do, but at last he took his Boy up before him on the Donkey. By this time they had come to the town, and the passers-by began to jeer and point at them. The Man stopped and asked what they were scoffing at. The men said: “Aren’t you ashamed of yourself for overloading that poor Donkey of yours—you and your hulking son?"

The Man and Boy got off and tried to think what to do. They thought and they thought, till at last they cut down a pole, tied the Donkey’s feet to it, and raised the pole and the Donkey to their shoulders. They went along amid the laughter of all who met them till they came to Market Bridge, when the Donkey, getting one of his feet loose, kicked out and caused the Boy to drop his end of the pole. In the struggle the Donkey fell over the bridge, and his fore-feet being tied together he was drowned.

And the moral of the story:

Giroud needs to be tossed over the bridge bro.

est wrote:

Want.

He's an animal.

Giroud is Mogwai whereas Costa is Gremlin.

Diego Costa (32M - Jan), Matuidi (free - Summer), Coleman (12m - Summer)

Costa
[size=x-small]Giroud[/size]
Cazorla --- Özil --- Walcott
[size=x-small]Podolski ----- Chambo ----- Wilshere[/size]
Matuidi ---- Ramsey
[size=x-small]Flamini ------------- Arteta[/size]
Gibbs - Kos - Mert - Sagna
[size=x-small]Nacho - Verm - Jenks - Coleman[/size]
Szczesny
[size=x-small]Fabianski

[/size]

Matuidi isn't a bad shout - looked a promising ball-winner at St. Etienne, and has become a rounder and better player at PSG. One of the best French midfielders at the moment for sure.

Conor, that 8-4-6-2 formation looks mint.

Figure we could overwhelm a lot of teams with that formation. Bet they won't see that coming!

Where would Barkley even play for us?

Where in midfield silly? He can't partner Ramsey, he's not half as good as Özil, and we've already got Wilshere would prefers playing in central midfield but can't get a game there at the moment.

If we're going to add a midfielder to this squad, he's got to be more of a balance player rather than an attacking one.

Tempted for Ross Barkley as well. He is like Rosicky with end product, his driving runs in midfield will be great for us.

Barkley is a good player already, and has potential to be a lot better. Not at all what we need though. The fact is, we will struggle to find games as it is for our young promising players in need of game time. The only positions where we can afford to have more talented youngsters in is at CB and CF for my money.

He's the best young English player around. We should get him

We have Wilshere, AOC and Ramsey all in the 'great British hope' category, and they are all above Barkley in the talent category IMO. Add that we have also Gnabry vying for a similar position on this team, and I just feel it will be difficult enough to give them all meaningful minutes to aid their development.

Could possibly add Zelelem to that group as well. In reality, the manager may have to let go of some seriously talented players.

Cf, cm, rb, CB are the only positions we can really bring someone in for.

Barkley is the best British talent. Got the lot. Including ridiculous power

----------------Costa
-----Ntep-------------Ozil
--------------Barkley
-------Wilshere--Ramsey

If we go for him we aint gonna have enough to get the striker we need. Barkley would cost somewhere upwards of £35m.

Play theo upfront then. Barkley will take the game by the scruff of its neck

Pweease Santa. Pweeetty Pweeease?

@lorddulaarsenal wrote:

Barkley is the best British talent. Got the lot. Including ridiculous power

You rate Barkley higher than Wilshere and AOC? Hmm, that is some serious praise. Would you let one or two of our other promising youngsters go, and if so, who/which ones? How would you give all of them enough games to continue developing?

Barkley is rumoured to be Chelsea bound anyway as part of the Lukaku loan deal.

@lorddulaarsenal wrote:

----------------Costa
-----Ntep-------------Ozil
--------------Barkley
-------Wilshere--Ramsey

I certainly wouldn't feel comfortable playing the best no10 in the world out of position to accommodate Barkley.

Seems likely. Chelsea are in desperate need of attacking mids...

None of City, us, Chelsea and Utd actually need Barkley, surprisingly. He'd be better off staying at Everton for a while and developing steadily.

Barkley looks like an immense talent in the making. I'd place him higher up than AOC too.

Not sure we necessarily need him but it's really hard to ignore what Griezmann is doing in Spain. He offers a hell of a lot for what his price will likely be. Excellent runner.

Like the look of him too.